Will President Obama return to Columbia University?

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS (WABC) -- There was plenty of excitement at Columbia University on Monday, and it wasn't just for the campus tradition of welcoming first-year students. People are still buzzing after a bombshell announcement at convocation. The Ivy League school president revealed that President Obama will return to his alma mater in 2017.

"He was kind of vague, but we've heard rumors that he was going to be professor at the law school, and all the student body erupted in cheers," says student Chloe Salz.

"I mean, all the freshmen - can you imagine you being here for the first time?" adds Yemisi Olorunwunmi, "it's really a moment of joy, and it speaks to what this university is."

The surprise revelation came before any sort of official announcement from the White House. In an effort to clear up the breach of protocol, a university spokesman said the comments at convocation followed a May 12th statement by the Barack Obama Foundation that it intends to maintain a presence at Columbia. President Obama graduated from Columbia in 1983.

"We definitely didn't hear anything from the White House before, so definitely a surprise," says student Tom Borgers.

Alyssa Estrada said she was in the School of Engineering, so she was not sure if she would be able to take a class with him.

"I definitely will try to see him if he gives a talk or something," she says.

The official word from the White House is, "The President has always respected Columbia University, and wants to continue working with the Ivy League school, but for the record, no plans have been finalized about what the President will do when his second term comes to an end."